Beauty: Drugstore shaving creams

My biggest beef with summertime is that I have to shave my legs on a daily basis. I guess I could go for a wax or try laser hair removal, but those methods can get pricey. Thus, armed with nothing by my Gillette Venus razor (I swear by that thing), I tried several different shaving creams under $5 that frequently inhabit the shelves of big box and drug stores. Here are three I recommend.

Best smelling

EOS Evolution of Smooth in Pomegranate Raspberry, $3.49

Most shaving creams are such a cocktail of moisturizers, chemicals and fragrances that they leave you smelling like a fruity martini. This pomegranate raspberry offering, however, smells very natural. I also like that EOS does not test on animals and is paraben free, but I did require a lot of the product per shave because the cream’s consistency was so tenuous.

Best deal

Skintimate, $2.59

The smell of Skintimate’s limited-edition Strawberry Tangerine Twist was, ahem, cloying to say the least, but I got over it about five minutes after my shower when I realized this, the most inexpensive of the creams, did just as good a job of stymieing my stubble as the more costly brands did.

Best moisturizer

Aveeno Positively Smooth, $4.39

The thickness of Aveeno’s lather is much appreciated whilst hunched over mid-shave. It stays put even as water drops do their wiggle down your jiggle. The gel is so packed with soy extracts and conditioners that your skin will feel like butter afterward. Aveeno also promises this product will minimize the appearance of unwanted hair so you can shave less often. Sold!